16 W W W. PA L M E R T R I N I T Y. O R G
MORE THAN E VER, PALMER TRINIT Y SCHOOL IS
BECOMING A COMMUNIT Y OF RE ADERS THAT
WELCOMES POE TRY WITH E AGER MINDS AND
HE ARTS, AND THAT DEEPLY CHERISHES THE
MULTIPLE "GIF TS" IT BESTOWS.
In How to Read a Poem and Start a Poetry Circle, Molly Peacock, who
served as judge of the First Annual Palmer Trinity Poetry Contest
this past spring, writes: "Sometimes I think we are attracted to a
poem because it makes us feel as if someone is listening to us. is
may seem like a strange reversal, because we are supposed to be
listening to it, but the voice of the poem allows us to hear ourselves.
It can be a great comfort to hear our own words emanating through
the letters of words that come from someone else." Of all the literary
genres, poetry goes most immediately 'to the heart of the matter.'
Oftentimes a particular poem has an uncanny way of arriving
in the life of a reader when they need it most. Poems, of course,
are not magic, but they do at times enter our lives in magical
ways and then become treasures—talismans as Ms. Peacock
calls her favorite poems—good luck pieces that can stay with
us for as long as we need them, perhaps for a lifetime.
And poetry is highly portable. e poems we come to love can be
easily tucked into a pocket or a purse, and if learned by heart, can
be called up at a moment's notice. Many poems are prayers. Certain
poems can help us recall important truths that we have somehow
lost sight of. Others can comfort us or call us to action. Poems can
help us celebrate both the trivial and sacred moments of life.
A clear indication of the growing love for poetry at PTS came
when forty-four poems were submitted for last year's contest. e
writing of poetry is indeed a fine venue for students to continue
to hone their language skills, to have their say, and to explore
what it means to be a member of the human family.
THE
GIF TS OF
POE TRY
BY CAT H Y BL ACK BU RN, ENGLISH DEPA RT MEN T
